(#8) 1/08

    Jesus' First Visitors

Matthew 2: 1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at it's rising, and have come to pay him homage." 

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:  And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Luke 2: 8-20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Jesus' first visitors, shepherds and wise men, could hardly be more different.  The wise men were well educated, widely traveled and comfortable meeting with kings and leaders.  The shepherds were likely illiterate, probably had never traveled more than a few miles from their birthplace, and spent more time with sheep than people.

The shepherds were nearby; the wise men traveled a great distance.  Yet both were touched to the core of their being by the same love that you and I have deep in our hearts at this very moment.

Principles of Love:

Unity; Opening

Reflection/Discussion:

What basic traits do all humans share regardless of race, culture, stature, health, income, or living situation?

Pray Through the Day:

Bring us together

In your love

(#9) 1/09

          Jesus is Brought to the Temple

Luke 2: 21-38

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the law of the Lord,  "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 

Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."  And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.  Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too." 

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.  At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon and Anna were filled with the Holy Spirit - filled with a deep awareness of the power and depth of God's love.  When they came into contact with Jesus who is God's love personified, they knew their lives had been fulfilled.  Patience and openness led to fulfillment.  Our lives are also fulfilled to the extent that we are in contact with the love of Jesus, which resides in each of our hearts.  Patience and openness...     

Principles of Love:

Commitment; Opening;

Reflection/Discussion:

What gets in the way of patience and openness in daily life?

Pray Through the Day:

Help us to love

When our will is weak

(#10) 1/10

  The Journey to Egypt

Matthew  2: 13-18

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."  Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:  A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,  Rachel weeping for her children;  she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

Herod demonstrated what happens when our hearts become closed by our own self-interest.  There is a strong impulse to protect image, power, position, and authority. As we become more defensive, our vision becomes more restricted.  Herod saw the innocent infants as threats to his throne, not as human children loved by their families.

  A defensive posture focuses on what we are against.  This blocks our vision of God's love, which permeates all of creation.  To the extent we close our hearts by defining and defeating "enemies," we lose touch with our greatest ally. 

Herod could easily rationalize his actions.  A few children died to prevent a possible insurrection, which could lead to conflict with Rome and many more deaths.  Any evil act can be rationalized if we view it from a narrow enough perspective.  Love involves seeing a larger, clearer picture:  God loves everything he has created.  We lose contact with God's love to the extent we diminish or destroy any part of his creation.

Principles of Love:

Vision; Opening; Commitment

Reflection/Discussion:

How do threats, assumed, perceived, or real, limit our vision of God's love in our world?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our eyes

To deepen our love

(#11) 1/11

The Return to Nazareth

Matthew 2: 18-23

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead."  Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.  There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Luke 2: 39-40

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.  The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Matthew and Luke describe two different paths to Nazareth.  Matthew describes the holy family moving to Egypt and coming to the place of Jesus' childhood only after the death of Herod.  Luke states that they returned to Nazareth after completing the requirements of the census, which brought them to Bethlehem. 

If we place God at the center of our life, we recognize that there are many different paths to realizing his love for us.  Arguing about details of what is "right" or "correct" in historical terms misses the point of scripture and distracts from the purpose of our lives.  God is less concerned about whether we have our limited perception of the facts straight than whether our hearts and minds are open to a greater understanding and appreciation of his creation.

By connecting the story of Jesus with Hebrew Scripture, Matthew helps us realize the continuity of God's love throughout history.  Reflecting on Luke's image of Jesus growing in strength and wisdom brings a warm smile and an open heart.  Both passages help us to be more receptive to God's eternal love.

Principles of Love:

Opening; Vision

Reflection/Discussion:

How can paying too much attention to details distract and divert us from receiving God's love?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our hearts

To your love

(#12) 1/12

         The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2: 41-52

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.  When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."  He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"  But they did not understand what he said to them.  Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

There are two ways to view any situation - God's way and the human way.  Mary and Joseph expose their humanity in their anxious search for Jesus.  Jesus sees the situation more from God's point of view - an opportunity to learn and grow in his father's love.

We can never fully grasp God's point of view, but opening our minds and hearts makes it more likely that we move in that direction.  Anxiety restricts our vision and limits our capacity for love.  If Mary and Joseph had stopped to take a few deep breaths and reflect on what was in Jesus' heart, it is likely they would have realized he was in the temple much sooner. 

Taking time to reflect on the heart of the matter diminishes our anxiety and helps us discover Jesus in our lives.

Principles of Love:

Vision; Opening

Reflection/Discussion:

What are sources of anxiety that limit our ability to see God's love in the world?

Pray Through the Day:

Open our eyes

To deepen our love

(#13) 1/13

The Testimony of John the Baptist

Matthew 3: 1-6

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."  This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' "  Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1: 2-6

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,' " John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Luke 3: 1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "

John 1: 19-23

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah."  And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No."  Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"  He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,  ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

Our mission in the world is much the same as John's "Make straight the way of the Lord."  The way of the Lord is the path of God's love that streams to every corner of the universe.  We clear this path by identifying and removing obstacles that prevent his love from flowing through every human heart.

The greatest obstruction to God's love is human selfishness in its many manifestations.  The worldly desire for security leads us to build walls that close our hearts in an illusion of safety.  The worldly impulse to seek short-term pleasure and material gain blocks our connectedness with God's creation.  The worldly drive for power and control crowds God's love from our heart with a fantasy of a better world, if only we were in charge.  The collapse into despair that is all too common in our world results from trying to avoid suffering when pain is a natural response to our situation.  Worldly depression numbs our pain as well as our ability to receive God's love.

Each of these obstacles grows out of selfishness.   Putting God rather than self at the center of our lives creates a straight path for his love to enter and pass through our hearts as it flows outward to all of creation.

Principles of Love:

Unity; Nature

Reflection/Discussion:

How does our world reinforce selfishness?

Pray Through the Day:

Bring us together

In your love

(#14) 1/14

               John Confronts the Self-Righteous

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Luke 3: 7-9

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

"You brood of vipers" hardly sounds like a loving refrain.  But John is attempting to "straighten the path of the Lord" by pointing out one of its greatest obstacles.  The people who came out to meet him were certain of their place in the Kingdom of God because of their ancestry and strict adherence to the many rules in their tradition. 

Love is not something we inherit, accomplish, or achieve.  It is a living, growing process of opening our hearts and minds to God and each other.  Love stops as soon as we believe that we have it mastered.  Love grows to the extent that we realize our need to learn and grow.

Principles of Love:

Forgiveness; Humility

Reflection/Discussion:

How does believing we have it made block our ability to love?

Pray Through the Day:

Lord, Jesus Christ

Have mercy on us